British PM hits back at Kremlin: “Who started the fire?”

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has hit back at the Kremlin after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov accused Britain of “adding fuel to the fire” of the war in Ukraine.

Peskov was responding to reports that Britain had shared classified technology with Ukraine to help it produce Storm Shadow/SCALP long-range missiles, British media writes.

Speaking to reporters in Kyiv on August 24, Burnham rejected the Kremlin’s criticism.

“Who started the fire? That’s the question, isn’t it,” Burnham said.

On August 24, Burnham arrived in Kyiv as part of his first overseas visit since becoming prime minister.

It is expected that the UK government will allow defence firm MBDA to release classified information on British components used in the SCALP long-range missile, paving the way for Ukraine and France to establish local assembly lines for the weapon in Ukraine.

SCALP is the French version of Britain’s Storm Shadow, with both missiles incorporating British and French technology. The UK was the first country to provide Ukraine with long-range strike weapons in 2023.

During his visit, Burnham will attend Ukraine’s Independence Day events and co-chair his first meeting of the Coalition of the Willing, which will discuss continued support for Kyiv.

By Aghakazim Guliyev